A
BYPASS for Maybole has moved up the political agenda again.
Transport minister Keith Brown has agreed to meet with campaigners
fighting for major road improvements to the town. The moved comes
after the issue was raised in the Scottish Parliament by Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley MSP Adam Ingram. And it follows a visit by
First Minister Alex Salmond to Maybole last week. Mr Ingram
explained: “I am delighted that the transport minister has accepted
the invitation to come to Maybole and meet local campaigners on the
issue. “The visit will give him a chance to see for himself just how
vital a bypass is for the local area. “The First Minister has
already indicated that acquiring borrowing powers from Westminster
could provide a potential solution to the current problem.” Mr
Salmond was in Maybole to tour the town’s biggest employer, SAS
International. Mr Ingram pointed out that the firm’s operation’s
manager John Gemmell also added his voice to the case for a bypass
around to town. He added: “In voicing his support, the First
Minister also emphasised to Mr Gemmell and Peter Mason, chairman of
the Maybole bypass committee, the budgetary constraints the Scottish
Government faces with regards to capital projects, but stated that
securing additional borrowing powers from Westminster could provide
a potential solution.” And he went on: “A review of the priority
status of the bypass project is now essential with traffic flows on
the A77 set to increase by up to 30 per cent as a consequence of the
new Irish ferry services becoming operational this year. “I am
hopeful that we can persuade the minister to look again at the case
for a bypass for Maybole and utilise any extra borrowing powers
which may arise from negotiations with Westminster to pay for the
project. “I look forward to welcoming him to Maybole.”